Melbourne to keep Boxing Day Test

Cricket Australia has “no plans” to put Melbourne’s traditional Boxing Day Test up for tender.

Reports from Down Under suggest CA has considered handing key international dates to the highest bidding states, an arrangement that would leave Melbourne vulnerable to losing its flagship event.

But that idea was shot down by CA executive general manager of operations, Mike McKenna.

He told 3AW: “We’ve got no plans whatsoever to move cricket and the Boxing Day Test from Melbourne.

“What we are talking about to both the Victorian Government and other State Governments is the opportunity to use the great events that we have already in their state to promote their state and increase visitation and economic benefit to the state.”

Victorian Sports Minister John Eren added: “I think it’s ludicrous for anybody to suggest that the Boxing Day Test would be moved anywhere else other than Melbourne because it would actually lose money.”